A Mandalorian in combat is a fascinating, even beautiful sight. A Mandalorian fighting a Jedi is truly spectacular.
When Revan agreed to the mercenary's suggestion for "a light spar" a few days prior, he hadn't anticipated what it would become.
He had waited nearly a week for the meeting with the clan leaders. In the end, less than a third of the representatives showed up, making a detailed coup plan pointless. All had to be involved, or the endeavor was doomed to failure from the start.
The passivity and wait-and-see attitude of many clans was understandable to Revan. It was difficult for Mandalorians to trust a stranger, especially a Jedi, and Revan was certain his affiliation with the Order couldn't be hidden for long. They expected not only a detailed plan from him but also the first, demonstrably successful steps toward its implementation.
The former Jedi never ceased to be amazed at how much Mandalore had changed. On one side were the Pacifists, mired in bureaucracy and corruption; on the other, hardened militarists ill-suited for the subtle "game of politics"; and on the third, the extremist Death Watch, who preferred terror to negotiation. Revan was currently stuck in the center of this fighting pit. He had already influenced the situation merely by appearing. Death Watch was agitated after the visit from HK and the disappearance of Bo-Katan. The True Mandalorians had gained hope for a low-casualty coup instead of a full-scale civil war. And the Pacifists, represented by Duchess Satine, were clearly wary after Avner Van's visit.
Still, this wasn't Revan's first encounter with planetary-scale intrigue. He had already mapped out what needed to be done. The only problem was that his next move required a couple more pieces to appear on the board.
And that waiting was the problem.
Revan hated inaction. So did Tira Nomad. While the Jedi could occupy himself training his apprentices, the mercenary lacked that option. That's how she came up with the idea of holding a small "Circle of Battle" to break the monotony and test her skills against a Jedi.
Revan readily agreed, as he himself wanted to refresh his memory of fighting Mandalorians. It would also be good to learn how their tactics had evolved over the years.
While the first few spars took place under relatively equal conditions, meaning without weapons or Force abilities, a week later, the fight involved most of the arsenal available to each combatant, with only one rule: do not destroy the Dawn's Eagle... which was, in itself, a significant limitation.
Tira quickly abandoned blasters, using them only for distraction. Not only did the lightsaber serve as an almost impenetrable shield for the Jedi, but to the Mandalorian's surprise, Revan could block blaster bolts practically with his bare hands. This trick didn't work against the wrist flamethrower, and the fire caused her opponent considerable trouble in the confined space. Of the grenades, only stun grenades could be used without risking damage to the ship, in whose cargo bay the "training" was taking place. A jetpack was also unusable due to the low ceiling. All this limited Nomad, yet simultaneously offered her priceless experience fighting an unconventional foe.
Revan, in turn, couldn't use powerful Force techniques, fearing for the ship's integrity. And though the duel could hardly be called equal, that didn't stop either of them from enjoying it.
Dodging a jet of flame and deflecting several blaster shots, Revan attempted to knock Tira off her feet with a Force push, but the girl anticipated the maneuver and used stun grenades to disorient her opponent. The plan almost worked, but a Jedi relies on more than just eyes and ears in a fight. The Force warned its adherent just in time about the Mandalorian's approach from the left. Her grappling cable missed its target, as did the lightsaber Revan threw forward, but with one difference. Revan's miss was deliberate.
"Hutt!" Tira cursed, incensed. "It's that 'precognition' of yours again! How am I supposed to catch someone by surprise when they see the future a few steps ahead?"
"There are ways. And overall, your tactics were sound. I'd say that in times past, you could have easily handled any Padawan or even a young Knight. But you rush too much. If you had allowed yourself the option of stepping aside during that last lunge, you could have seized the moment to strike my dominant hand," Revan replied.
"Just don't lecture me like your students," Nomad scoffed. "What I need is a short blade of beskar or cortosis."
"That would be rather expensive," the former Jedi chuckled.
"A freak is more expensive," Tira shrugged.
"Perhaps ultrachrome, then, if you absolutely need something to counter a lightsaber?"
"Ultrachrome? Go find that in this part of the galaxy. The Hutts don't supply it, and you'd have to search for a suitable trader on the other side of the galaxy. Besides, that coating would only last for a few strikes before reaching its limit and melting."
"Still, your initial plan was moving in the right direction. You persistently tried to disarm me."
"And I almost succeeded," the girl reminded him.
"But even without my saber, I would still have the Force. Though I couldn't use all my abilities."
"Don't get cocky, Jetii. I couldn't use all my tricks either. I doubt you'd be intact if we fought for real. I couldn't even use my whistling bird missiles."
Revan could have argued with that statement, but the Mandalorian had a point. Tira's compatriots compensated for their lack of Force-sensitivity with technology and highly sophisticated weaponry. Their compact shock weapons and flamethrowers alone were proof. And over the past millennia, the Mandalorians had advanced far beyond the rest of the galaxy. It was no wonder the Senate was ultimately so frightened that it sicced the Order on their sector. Thus, the former Jedi gave the mercenary her due, admitting he might not have defeated her so easily. Yet, objectively assessing their capabilities, Revan saw no outcome to their duel in which the Mandalorian emerged victorious. Unless, of course, it was the will of the Force.
In their first encounter, both were unprepared for the collision. The mercenary hadn't expected her opponent to be a Jedi and was thrown off, while Revan, in turn, didn't want to kill and put all his effort into capturing her alive for questioning. The resulting fight was short and clumsy, unlike what the two of them were demonstrating in the Eagle's cargo bay.
Anakin, who tried not to miss any of his master's spars, was ecstatic. Even in Maul's eyes, Tira earned a modicum of respect... and only HK, who occasionally monitored the duels via surveillance cameras, rated the mercenary's skills as "average, for a simple meatbag."
"I hope we never have to test that theory in practice," Revan replied diplomatically to the heated Tira.
Despite her discipline and training, the girl was still too young to accept criticism calmly from anyone other than her mentor. And the former Jedi saw no point in arguing.
At that moment, Maul entered the compartment. He had waited outside for the sounds of fighting to subside, not wanting to disturb his Master.
"My Lord, I have received a message from my contact inside the Duchess's palace. The individuals you were waiting for have arrived," the Zabrak reported with a bow.
"Excellent." Revan could barely suppress a smile.
Finally, all the players were in position, and the reborn former Sith could proceed to the active phase of his plan's preparation.
"What happened?" Tira inquired.
"Good news," the former Jedi smirked. "The waiting and the boredom are over."
"Are we starting?" the girl brightened.
"Yes. Inform Sevras that a meeting of the clans must be arranged immediately. I will also require an audience with the Duchess. Although, I can handle the latter myself if everything goes according to plan. But having a backup won't hurt."
"Understood."
"Then I won't delay you."
"I'll be in contact when I have news," the mercenary nodded and left the compartment.
"Maul, you will run Anakin's training instead of me today. No sparring, just basic movement drills."
"As you command," the Zabrak affirmed with a bow.
"Try to put less pressure on him; we don't need to stir up his emotions right now. The boy has only just begun to feel the balance and intercept the influence of the Dark Side in time."
"I understand, My Lord, and I will not fail you."
"Good. I'll have another assignment for you tomorrow. For today, I ask not to be disturbed."
"As you command."
Nodding in response to the reverently bowed Zabrak, Revan left the compartment and headed for the holocommunicator.
"R2, encrypt the channel. Even the best encryption breakers shouldn't be able to trace the signal," the former Jedi ordered the astromech, who was conducting standard system diagnostics.
The droid dutifully and with undisguised enthusiasm diverted his attention from the routine check and engaged the holocommunicator's console.
A few moments later, the astromech chirped a joyful binary trill, confirming the successful execution of the command.
"Excellent, good work, R2," Revan thanked him and activated the communicator.
Within moments, the translucent figure of Qui-Gon Jinn materialized above the holoprojector, showing considerable surprise at the sight of his caller.
"...Avner?" the Order's Master questioned, taking a moment to settle on a name for his interlocutor.
"Master Jinn, I'm glad to see you," Revan greeted the Jedi.
"Likewise," Qui-Gon smiled. "However..."
"I will explain everything when we meet."
"I am not on Coruscant at the moment..." Jinn began.
"And that is one of the reasons I wish to meet in person. In one hour, Keldabe's south dock sector, the cantina 'The Mudhorn's Cave'."
"How do you..."
"Believe me, what I have to say is of great importance and is directly connected to the reason you and your Padawan came to Mandalore," Revan interrupted.
"I will come," the Jedi replied, frowning.
"Excellent," the reborn ancient Master nodded and cut the connection.
The visit of Jinn and Kenobi to Mandalore was exactly the event Revan had been eagerly awaiting. These two were needed to help shift the planet's balance of power, creating an opportunity for a nearly bloodless coup. Nearly, because there are always casualties when power changes hands. They may not be reported by the media or mentioned in official summaries, but someone's blood inevitably becomes the ink with which a new regime is written. Nothing had changed in thousands of years.
"R2, I will need you today. Wait by the cargo ramp," the former Jedi told the astromech.
"Dee-deet, doo!" the droid chirped cheerfully in reply and rolled toward the ship's exit.
Revan, meanwhile, headed to the second cargo bay, which had become the place of confinement for the Duchess's sister, Bo-Katan Kryze, over the past couple of weeks.
Since the moment the girl asked him to tell Satine she was alive, Revan had visited her every day, trying to talk to her and gently nudge her thoughts, which were in disarray after the revealed truth about Death Watch, in the right direction. Little by little, he was succeeding. The Force had almost no effect on the Mandalorian, and the former Jedi had to rely solely on his natural gift of persuasion and his negotiation experience from his "past life."
"How is our guest?" Revan asked HK-47, who was guarding the cargo bay doors.
"Indifferent Statement: Disgustingly calm, Master. The captive is in no hurry to utilize escape opportunities," the droid replied.
"Good. Open the door."
The droid meekly executed the order, having already prepared his weapon. A prisoner is still a prisoner, after all. And no one is safe from an escape attempt.
However, Bo-Katan, dressed in the light training suit she had been given in place of her confiscated armor, reacted to Revan's appearance reservedly, as if she had been expecting him all along. She didn't even interrupt the set of exercises she diligently performed every day.
"Good day, Bo-Katan," Revan greeted the captive.
"You've arrived, Tramp," the younger Kryze replied, casting an indifferent glance at her visitor.
The girl never called Revan anything but "Tramp." He hadn't told her his real name, nor had he mentioned his affiliation with the Order. Thus, Bo-Katan was completely convinced that her interlocutor and warden was a clanless Mandalorian mercenary operating in alliance with Clan Nomad.
"I see captivity is no reason for you to neglect your training. Commendable," Revan politely observed.
"I won't sit locked up forever," Kryze scoffed.
"But you won't leave here without my permission, either."
The girl froze for a moment and glared at him.
"Did you come here to gloat? Then you shouldn't have made my confinement so comfortable," Bo-Katan said acrimoniously.
The former Jedi laughed good-naturedly.
"Oh, no, I'm not here for that. I take no pleasure in mocking someone who could become an ally."
"Ha! Dream on!" Kryze laughed dramatically. "Do you actually think I'd side with you?"
"Why not? We want the same thing. We need a strong Mandalore that preserves its identity and traditions, not a pathetic imitation of a backwater Republic farm world that's only remembered once a decade, and only to collect new taxes."
"I already have people who will help..."
"Vizsla, in his pursuit of power, would sooner turn the planet and all its people to ash. He inherited only the vices of his ancestor who betrayed his kin on Galidraan. And you know this perfectly well. Otherwise, you would have left my ship two weeks ago through that access panel to the service channel that you've so cleverly hidden behind those crates."
Yes, Revan was fully aware that Kryze had long prepared for escape, yet for some reason, she wasn't rushing it. Perhaps she intended to spy on him and gather more intelligence to take back to Vizsla. Or perhaps she planned to make sense of what Revan had told her regarding the kidnappings and the assassination attempt on the Duchess. The captive was full of doubt; the former Jedi felt this very clearly. And day by day, Revan eroded her confidence in her chosen path, forcing her to seek new options. And those new options were what the former Sith intended to ultimately provide to the bewildered girl.
"Death Watch at least does something..." Bo-Katan tried to argue.
"And by their actions, they are only pushing Mandalore closer to the edge of an abyss from which there will be no return!"
"As if there are any other options!" the Mandalorian snapped, losing her temper.
This was exactly the effect the former Jedi was counting on, having repeatedly provoked the younger Kryze's emotions.
"There is," Revan stated calmly.
"W... What?" Bo-Katan nearly choked on her next phrase, staring at him with suspicion.
"I can offer another path. A path that will preserve Mandalore, restore its traditions, and, moreover, save our people from Republic interference."
"If you mean the Clan Council..."
"No. I'm not talking about the political opposition that, for years, has done nothing but stew in indignation and mourn bygone eras. No. I'm talking about a shift in political direction, the solidification of Mandalore's independence, and the establishment of its true government. We can unite the Mandalorians under a single banner. To once again become the people who were feared and respected throughout the galaxy for millennia."
Bo-Katan frowned, absorbing the information. The words were grand, and the promises bright. However, they were still just words. Revan himself understood that he currently had nothing behind him but a plan and a couple of relatively loyal people. But he was used to such conditions. And those who knew Revan personally were long accustomed to the fact that if the former general had a plan, they could bet on it.
"Satine..." the younger Kryze whispered faintly.
"The Duchess will play a key role in the establishment of the new Mandalore."
"I won't let anything happen to her!" Bo-Katan cried out menacingly.
For a moment, Revan thought the girl might lunge at him. An interesting reaction. Her bond with her sister was even deeper than the former Jedi had calculated.
"Calm down. Nothing will happen to Satine Kryze. Furthermore, she is the one who will initiate Mandalore's new policy and lead all the clans."
The captive stared at him with undisguised shock.
"That's absurd... Satine will never abandon her principles! Her policies are what brought our people to the brink of ruin."
"And what if she does change? What if she is given something that outweighs her naive convictions? What if her faith in the ideals of pacifism is shaken, and the perfect, illusory world she built around herself suddenly crumbles?"
The younger Kryze listened intently to Revan's words, growing more horrified with each passing second. She knew her sister well... and could imagine what this could lead to.
"It will break her. She won't survive it..." Bo-Katan whispered, a plea in her voice.
"Your older sister is far stronger than you think," Revan said calmly. "But yes, her world will collapse. And when it does, she will need support... family and love."
"Is this what all this was for? My kidnapping? All of it just to use me in games with my sister?" Kryze hissed viciously.
"Your abduction was merely the result of circumstance. I would have executed the plan regardless. But without you, there would be no certainty about the security of the new Mandalore's leader. With you, the Duchess's chances are simply increased."
"Psychopath..."
"I've been called worse," Revan smirked.
"What you're saying is impossible!"
"Nothing is impossible; there are only poorly defined objectives and undeveloped plans," the former Jedi dismissed calmly.
"My sister won't agree to this... And with me... We haven't spoken in too long."
"Yet, upon hearing the news that you were alive, the Duchess alerted all her contacts, including those on Coruscant, to find you."
"Family... Clan above all..." the captive whispered faintly.
"Clan above all," Revan repeated. "And I ask you to follow your principles on this matter."
A long silence settled. Kryze pondered her interlocutor's words, while he waited for the necessary reaction.
"But what gives you such confidence that Satine will be ready to accept me back into the clan?" Bo-Katan finally spoke.
"Believe me, she will tell you herself soon enough," the former Jedi stated confidently.
"What are you talking about?"
"You'll see. For now, think about my proposal. If you are concerned for your sister, you have no better path."
Revan did not wait for an answer, turning and leaving the compartment.
"If she attempts to escape, do not interfere, but keep track of her," he ordered the assassin droid.
"Willing Statement: Understood, Master."
"And I must go to another meeting."
Taking R2 with him, Revan left the Eagle and headed for the cantina 'The Mudhorn's Cave'.
The meeting place was chosen for a reason. The owner of the establishment was a former member of Clan Nomad and, with the head's permission, had graciously agreed to ensure the meeting's privacy, and to provide backup in case of the unexpected. Revan, however, only learned of the latter upon arrival.
At first glance, the cantina's patrons were no different from the usual denizens of port-side establishments. And were it not for a remark from the bar owner, the former Jedi might not have noticed that every person present had an extensive military background, despite cleverly concealing their military bearing.
"No outsider will hear anything. I guarantee it," said Raut Nomad, the cantina's owner.
"Tell them not to tense up so much. The guest is a Jedi and might sense gazes full of hatred directed at him," Revan warned.
"Everyone here is a professional. Don't worry, kid."
"I'm counting on you," the former Jedi stated with a polite nod and walked to the far corner of the room, where segregated booths were located for customers who preferred privacy.
The astromech, by Revan's command, connected to the local security system. His task was to monitor the situation and record the proceedings while simultaneously blocking any attempts to remotely eavesdrop on the negotiations.
Qui-Gon Jinn didn't keep him waiting, arriving exactly at the appointed time.
His disguise, as always, left much to be desired. The strange cloak Jinn wore over his Jedi robes didn't so much conceal his affiliation with the Order as it drew attention... it looked rather comical.
"Avner Van," the approaching Jedi greeted Revan with a smile, having accurately pinpointed where his interlocutor was waiting.
Revan wasn't masking his presence in the Force, so Qui-Gon's awareness was no surprise.
"Master Jinn," the former Jedi replied with a nod and gestured for his guest to take a seat.
"I admit, your call surprised me," Qui-Gon said, settling into the booth opposite Revan.
"Funny, and yet everyone keeps telling me that my name is inseparably linked to Mandalore," the former Sith smirked.
"And who is so well-informed?" the Master asked, squinting slyly, playing along.
"Good acquaintances."
The two men exchanged knowing smiles.
"How is Anakin?" the Order's representative inquired.
"He's progressing," Skywalker's mentor acknowledged with satisfaction.
"I regret that I couldn't take him as my student. But I'm glad he ended up with you as his master."
"I don't forbid my students from gaining knowledge from others. If you wish, you can always participate in his instruction."
"I'm afraid our ideologies might clash a little..." Qui-Gon smirked.
"Will they?"
"At least, officially. I am still a member of the Order, don't forget."
"But that doesn't stop you from thinking for yourself. Which is more than can be said for your Padawan."
Jinn frowned.
"Obi-Wan wasn't always this way. He can be difficult to understand at times, but he is a good man. His fanatical devotion to the dogmas is partly my fault. But let's not dwell on that..."
"As you say."
"I presume it would be simpler if we skipped the pleasantries," Qui-Gon suggested.
"I won't argue," Revan replied, becoming serious in an instant.
"Bo-Katan Kryze. Is she who you wished to discuss?" Jinn asked directly.
"Among other things."
"Do you know where she is?" the Master asked, without a hint of threat.
"What's more important isn't where she is now, but where she was before this."
"And where was that?"
"With Death Watch," Revan answered calmly.
"She was held captive all this time?" Jinn was surprised.
"It's difficult to remain captive when you are the second-in-command."
"What?" the astonished Qui-Gon repeated.
"Bo-Katan Kryze occupies the position of the de facto right hand of Death Watch's leader," Revan explained.
"Unthinkable," the Jedi breathed out. "Death Watch tried to kill her sister!"
"And, as it turns out, she knew nothing about it."
"Where is she now?"
"A guest."
Qui-Gon frowned.
"You aren't holding the sister of the local head of government against her will, are you?"
"I assure you, not a hair on her head has been harmed. And I left her the opportunity to leave," Revan said without reservation.
"Then that message for Satine?"
"Bo-Katan sent it through me."
"And you advised the Duchess to seek help from her 'old friends in the Order'?" Jinn guessed.
"That is correct."
"Why do you require our presence on Mandalore?" the Master frowned. "I won't allow the innocent or my Padawan to be harmed."
"You don't consider him innocent?" Revan smirked.
"You understood me."
The former Jedi nodded with a barely perceptible smile.
"There is no cause for concern," he assured his interlocutor. "Moreover, I am specifically invested in the safety and security of the Duchess and her retinue."
"And where do Obi-Wan and I fit in?"
"You both ensured her safety once before," Revan shrugged. "And of the entire Order, I am inclined to trust only you."
This appeal flattered Jinn. So much so that even the mental barriers the Jedi had erected before the conversation flickered, allowing his interlocutor to sense the Master's emotions.
"I still don't understand."
"I want to arrange a meeting between the Kryze sisters. And while I can handle Bo-Katan's security myself, Satine will be at risk. Given the recent attack on Concordia, where one of the Death Watch bases was destroyed, those fanatics may try to seek revenge," Revan explained.
"Hmm, quite possible," Jinn mused. "But what is your interest? Have you suddenly been moved by the sisterly bond?"
The former Sith laughed dramatically.
"My interest is somewhat more global. I need a united Mandalore. Strong and independent," he said, meeting Qui-Gon's eyes.
The Master was quite surprised by this declaration.
"To what end? Of all people, I didn't expect this statement from you. After all, you understand better than anyone what a Mandalore returned to its past is capable of."
"Qui-Gon, the galaxy will soon face a conflict the likes of which it has never known. And believe me, it will be better for everyone if Mandalore is the way I remember it, and not this Republic fragment that can't even defend itself from pirates," Revan remarked seriously.
"What do you mean?"
"This will be a long conversation," the former Jedi warned.
"I have time."
"Then order us a Kaff or something stronger," Revan said, rising from his seat. "I'll let my people know I'll be delayed."
Walking over to the bar, he addressed the astromech hidden beneath the counter.
"Locate Kenobi. He's nearby."
"Dwoow?" the droid questioned.
"Ensure he overhears our conversation. It will be useful for him."
The astromech beeped an affirmative response and began carrying out the order.
Meanwhile, Revan began his narrative, relaying to Qui-Gon a fraction of the information the former Jedi had managed to glean after his encounter with Sidious. Jinn didn't need to know everything. And this much would suffice to gauge the Order's awareness of Sith activities.
The entire conversation was, in fact, orchestrated largely for the Padawan's benefit. His mere presence on Mandalore was already causing the Duchess to act rashly. Maul's spies and the representatives of the Clan Council had both noticed this. Obi-Wan had influence over Satine, and that could be exploited.
But there was still much preparation to be done. And the next step would be a small deal with a Sith.
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